Letter to White House

Washington Jewish Week
September 9, 2004

Hoping to acquire the signatures of American Jews across the country, a group of U.S. Jewish leaders and activists is launching an "open letter campaign" calling for "vigorous and persistent engagement in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict" by the next U.S. president.

Among the initial signatories to the letter, which can be seen and signed at www.presidentialletter.org, are Judge and former member of Congress Abner Mikva, Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, actor Theodore Bikel, author Letty Cottin Pogrebin and Union for Reform Judaism vice president emeritus Al Vorspan. The missive is coordinated by Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, a left-wing peace group.

The letter asks the next president, within the first 100 days of his term, to "appoint an internationally respected envoy at the highest level to signal your intentions to pursue full implementation of the disengagement plan and a renewal of negotiations leading to a final status accord."